Airport taxiway reflector



. j 53 Claims;

l- ED ATE OFFICE;-

, 22,610,5485 7 I hinimfwjixrwuMamet11.41

Robert Mi'Isenberg, Fort lllitchell, Ky. '..Application.September 1, 1 95 0, .sgrai No. 182,810.

' wra s)" 1 f Y -tuiammo n'ilise is an inverted U-shaped frame which has its limbs anchored in theground 'along' the edge of the taxiwa'y, said frame being provided with a-flat banner-like reflector. 1 i

.1 There hasrl n be n ed or x wa z fl tQ 'wh i aereate ran e/0 sfi ll thereiqreith obie tef h i a ve t on t rov e areflect r hich ...m9re sa etencan desirable because it takes the form of an endless annular band or ring providing reflective facilities from all angles throughout approximately 360 degrees.

More specifically, the instant invention has to do with a metal strap which is some 16 inches more-or-less in length and Zinches in width and which has its ends overlapped and formed into a ring and fastened together, the exterior surface of the strap being coated with reflective media, whereby to provide a reflector in which manufacturers, users and pilots will find their essential needs fully met, contained and successfully available.

Another desirable aspect of the invention has to do with the aforementioned endless reflector band or strap which is provided with a stake, said stake being adapted to be removably fitted in a socket in an anchoring block which is embedded in the ground along the edge of the taxiway. This arrangement is advantageous in that the anchor stays put and permits the grass to be mowed during which interval the stake and reflecting band, as a unit, are detached and set aside.

Additional novelty is predicated on a simple metal or equivalent stake having an eye at one end, said eye being adapted to accommodate a bolt and nut, which latter is used to fasten the ends of the reflecting band together and also to detachably mount the band on the stake.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawmgs.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

u l is a e eetivei ew ,qff h mb... a: lm-ma k r an r ctor-con tru ed in M re: a te w hlthe p i i les-o the p es n en 9n and s o i t man i i h the a i 1 ten d o mused; J a

Figure 2 i va i lanv ew 9f th s emb a e shown i F u e. 1,;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentaryisectional and fil v fi llfil vi w t n. a pr ximat ly o t plane of the vertical line 3- 3 of Figure 1, looking inthedirection of the arrows; and

H Figure 4 v isv an elevationaial view of" the strap from whichthe reflecting band is fashioned, said strapbeing depictedin. flat form.

.Referringnow to the drawings by lead lines and numerals. the anchoring ,unit v is denoted by "the numeral thisi compri'ses, ,by'preference, a wooden or equivalent peg 8'....'I?he1pe fis preferably rectangular in cross-section and ha's asatwsw and a pointed ground-penetrating bottom I2. The latter is driven down into the ground so that the top is flush with the approximate surface of the ground. The point of location is, of course, at some predetermined place in relation to the marginal edge of a runway or so-called taxiway (not shown). At its center, the peg is provided with a vertical bore'constituting a socket [4 for reception of the lower end portion I6 of the metal or equivalent stake I8. The upper end of the stake is provided with an eye 20 which serves to accommodate a bolt 22 and an assembling and clamping nut 24. In practice, the bolt is passed through bolt holes 26 and 28 in the end portions of the marking and reflecting strap 30. This is a metal strap which, in practice, may be some 16 inches in length and approximately 2 inches in width. The strap is bent upon itself into an endless ring and functions both as a day-time marker as well as a night-time reflector. The outer or visible surface thereof is coated with appropriate reflecting media or means 32. Obviously,'by bringing the holes 26 and 28 into alignment and overlapping the ends 34 and 36, an endless reflecting band is thus provided. The band is usually maintained on and forms a part of the stake and the lower end of the stake is removably fitted into the socket in the anchoring peg or block 6.

In practice, the wooden peg, which functions as an anchor, is driven into the ground alongside of the margin of the runway or taxiway in an obvious manner. The flat top is made substantially flush with the ground or other surface. This anchor is left permanently in place. On the other hand, the lower end portion l6 of the metal rod or stake I8 is removably fitted into the socket M in the anchor. The upper end of the stake projects above the surface to a desired elevation and carries and displays the combination marker and reflector ring. It will be evident that the chief reason for adopting and using a ring is that the reflecting facilities are available throughout the 360 degrees, as is obvious.

Therefore, gOOd reflecting results are attainable from any angle. v I

It will be evident that the reflector herein disclosed is simple in construction, effective, economical and of great and safe utility. It provides a source of effective guidance and reflection of lights coming from airplanes ranging from the smallest to the largest in size. It will be clear, therefore, that this band or ring-type re-v flector fulfills a long felt need for better night.

what is claimed as new is:

' 1.A combination marker and reflector of the class shown and described comprising an annular band having its exterior surface coated with-reflection means, the ends of said band being overlapped and provided withaligned bolt holes, a stake having an eye in alignment with said bolt holes, a boltpassing through said eye and bolt holes, and nut means on said bolt join- All of these features.

file of this patent:

ing said overlapped ends together and also fastening same to said eye.

2..A runway marker of the class described comprising a peg adapted to be driven and anchored in'the ground, said peg having a flat top surface which is intended to be flush with the ground, said peg being further provided with a vertical axial socket, a stake telescopically and remcvably fitted in said socket, said stake being provided at its upper end with an eye, a marker, boltand nut means mounted in said-eye and removably connected with said marker, said marker being of annular form and exteriorly provided with reflective media.

3. An airport taxiway reflector in the class described comprising a peg'adapted' to be driven and anchored in the ground at a prescribed place, said peg having a flat top surface which is adapted to be arranged so that it is flush with the ground, said peg being further provided with a' socket, an annular band having its exterior surface coated with light reflecting means and its interior; surface being non-reflective, a vertical "stake, means separably attaching said band'to the upper end of said stake, the lower 'end' of said stake being blunt and said lower end portion being removably fitted into said socket.

ROBERT M. ISENBERG;

7 REFERENCES CITED- I The following references are of record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 324,649 Brown Aug. 18, 1885 1,635,267 Feinberg July 12, 1927 1,900,945 I Myers Mar. 14, 1933 2,235,285 I Carver Mar. 18, 1941 

